Cigarette making machines and the like



Oct. 16, 1962 T. A. BANNING, JR

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 11, 1959 Inventor:

Thomas Mian g lfi".

its

This invention relates to cigarette making machines, and the like. Specifically, the machines hereinafter disclosed are of the type which produces spirally wrapped cigarettes, wherein the paper enclosing the tobacco is tormed into a wrapper in which the paper strip extends spirally around the body of tobacco, and in which the seam at the joined edges of such paper strip extends in spiral fashion along the cigarette. Still more specifically, the machines embodying the present inventive features may, and are herein disclosed and illustrated as being of that type in which a twister or spiraler of proper form causes a continuous strip of paper of the proper width to be regularly curled into tubular form as it proceeds through such twister, so that as such strip emerges from the twister it has been brought into a continuous tube having a spiral seam extending along its length, the proximate edges of the strip being brought together at the location of such seam and secured together, generally by suitable adhesive. The tobacco filler is fed to such spiralling strip at a location where the strip has not been spiralled sufficiently to complete the tubular enclosure, and such tobacco then travels along with the strip into and through the twister. Thus the tube is filled with the tobacco by an operation in which the very act of curling the strip into its cylindrical form produces a compacting operation on such tobacco as it is finally fully enclosed. Machines embodying twisters of the aforementioned characteristics are shown in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 2,788,004, issued to me April 9, 1957, and will also be shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,873,745, to be issued to me February 17, 1959, on my application, Serial No. 516,633. Other machines embodying such spiralers for cigarette production are also shown in my copending application, Serial No. 760,149, filed by me September 10, 1958, now US. Patent No. 3,006,348.

In one or more of such earlier patents and applications I have broadly claimed such twisters as embodied in combinations capable of producing the completed cigarettes, such completed articles being of such length as may be desired by the user of the unit, within the capacity of such unit as limited by the amount of tobacco and paper strip which can be accommodated and carried in such unit. Such earlier embodiments are especially intended for pocket carriage in the pocket of the user, so that at his desire he may produce a fresh cigarette of such length as shall meet his needs. Such earlier embodiments of units also include cut-ofi means by which the user can cut off the length which he has caused to be produced and which has emerged from the unit. Such cut-off operation then completes the operation, ready for another similar operation to be performed, producing an other cigarette of the same length or some other length as desired.

In each of the aforesaid embodiments the cigarette produc-ing operation is manual, and includes the delivery of tobacco from a hopper or other container constituting a part of the unit, to the paper strip surface at a location where such strip has not yet been brought into its fully spiralled and cylindrically enclosed tubular form. The feed of the tobacco to such twisting or spiralling strip is comparatively slow, and in quantity only needed for production of the one cigarette length at a time.

Twisters such as disclosed in such earlier patents and applications may also be advantageously used for the prorates are duction of the spirally wrapped cigarettes at high speed, as a continuous length of product of uniform quality, on a commercia basis. When so used the continuous length product is cut off in successive equal lengths of the cigarette to meet such specifications as may be stipulated. Under such use the operation of producing the continuous length of wrapper, uniformly filled with the in-fed tobacco, such wrapper being then spiralled to fully enclose the tobacco filler and to bring the two edges of the strip into proximity for sealing together, and the sealing of such edges together, will comprise a continuous smoothly proceeding operation without any intermittently moving parts, and with continuous rotation of such operative parts as may be needed. Provision is then made for regularly cutting off such strip to produce the desired lengths of cigarette as a final step in the continuously proceeding operation. The cutting ofi may also be produced by a rotating element, without any intermittently moving parts.

In such a continuous commercial operation the tobacco must be continuously fed to the wrapper strip and delivered to the surface of such strip at uniform rate and just prior to entry of the curving or spiralling strip into the final stage of the twister. Also, the filled (and packed) continuous length of product must be continuously withdrawn from the twister at uniform rate properly co-ordinated to the rate of tobacco feed to the wrappers surface so that the proper amount of tobacco will be present at each increment of length to ensure good packing of uniform degree, thus to ensure uniform quality of the cigarettes cut off from all parts of a great length of such product.

In certain of such earlier cases I have shown means acting in the direction of in-feed of the tobacco into the horn of the twister, so :as to aid in packing the tobacco into such finally proceeding operation of the process. It is here noted, however, that the manual operations carried through in such pocket size units as are specifically shown in such earlier applications and patents, are relatively slow, and thus the operating conditions which must be met in using such :a unit are very different from those encountered in the operation of a continuously practised operation, at high rate, and when the specifications of quality, degree of packing, and others, must be continuously complied with. Thus it may be stated that while each of such earlier cases discloses the form of twister or spiraler Which is shown in the present application, each such earlier embodiment has been devised to meet the slow, manually operated conditions incident to the type of use of the cigarette machines shown in such cases, as distinguished from the very high speed operation-s necessarily desired in commercial type machines, operating under very closely controlled conditions of packing, uniformity of product, and other conditions special to such a commercial type unit. The manual type units heretofore disclosed may also be termed bulk type units, being served with only that amount of tobacco contained in a bulk which is placed or fed into the hopper or container of the unit; whereas, the commercial type machines may be called continuously operating machines or units.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a continuously operating machine embodying the twister element for producing the wrapping operation in spiral form, and without any distortion of the paper web during its change from its original form, as, for example, in a roll of such web, other than such changes as conform to the smooth curving of such web about the angle of spiral, and into the finally formed spirally seamed wrapper. In this connection, to combine with such twister or spiraler, means to Withdraw the packed and completed length of cigarette emerging from such twister, such withdrawal being effected by a continuous uniform pull of controlled amount, exerted on such emerging length. In connection with the foregoing, to provide means to continuously exert a packing action on the tobacco moving towards the horn of the twister, such packing action being adjusted as to rate and packing force to ensure delivery of the completed length of cigarette under specified conditions of packing, and according to the specifications to which the operation is being conducted. Also, to provide means to continuously deliver a stream of the tobacco against the surface of the web moving along the twister, and at a location in advance of the complete closure of the wrapper tulbe, such continuous tobacco delivering means being operated at rate proper to ensure at all times a rate of tobacco feed just proper to ensure the specified packing as the completed length of the cigarette emerges from the delivery end of the twister horn. Also, to provide means to cut-off the completed continuous length of cigarette in regular, equal length, segments, to conform to the specifications to which the operation is being conducted.

In connection with the foregoing objectives, it is a further object of the invention to provide a unit for continuously producing such uniform continuous length of the filled, packed, and wrapped and cut-off product, by use of rotary elements, without the need of using reciprocating elements, and thus Without the production of inertia effects which are produced when reciprocating elements are present in the chain of operations. In this connection it is a further and important objective to provide a cigarette producing machine which can be operrated at very high rates of cigarette production. Thus, cigarette rates as high as several thousand complete cigarettes per minute may be readily attained and sustained, for cigarettes of conventional lengths of 2% or 3 inches. For cigarettes of 3 inch length, a production of 4,000 cigarettes per minute is equivalent to 12,000 inches or 1,000 feet per minute web travel, of the wrapper.

In connection with ability to operate the machine at very high production rates it is noted that the cut-off clement must also operate at correspondingly high rate. In the example above stated, of 4,000 cigarettes per minute, conventional length, the cutoff element must also produce a corresponding number of cut-off operations per minute. I have provided a rotary cutter by which such cut-off operations are produced, such cutter operating continuously at uniform rotational speed, and being proper-ly synchronized with the rate of emergence of the length of completed cigarette.

In connection with the foregoing cutter arrangement, it is also noted that although the length of completed cigarette is emerging from the twister horn at very high rate, so that such completed length must travel an appreciatble distance during the interval needed for the cutter element to cut across the cigarette diameter, still I have made provision such that during the cut-off operation such blade also executed an amount of travel in the direction of cigarette length movement corresponding to the travel of such cigarette length, so that a smooth and uniform cut is produced Without rufiiing or other distortion of the cigarette length.

Thus, included in my present disclosures of a commercial type cigarette machine are the following elements; the wrapper web twister or spiraler, the means to deliver a continuous uniform body of tobacco towards and against such web at the proper point, the means to pack or compact the so-delivered tobacco uniformly towards and into the final stage of the wrapping and enclosing operation, the means to continuously withdraw the completed, filled and packed with tobacco spirally wrapped tube of the wrapper, and the means to cut-off the specified lengths of completed cigarette, as well as the means to produce sealing of the wrapper as it emerges from the twister, such sealing means generally comprising a moistener acting in contact with the over-lapped edge portionsof the emerging tube of wrapper. When such seal ing means comprises a moistening element acting against the over-lapped edge portions of the wrapper tube, I also provide, if necessary, means to slightly heat the moistened seam immediately after such moistening operation has occurred, and for a very short instant, to ensure good adherence of the two edge portions together.

Additionally, I have provided adjustable means to bring the rates of operation of such several components into properly synchronized values, so that the desired uniformity of quality of the completed product shall be ensured and maintained. 7

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows, schematically, an installation including the twister element which is disclosed in my said earlier applications and patents, the tobacco delivery means for continuously delivering a uniform body stream of the tobacco towards the concave face of the web which is being in-fed from a suitable source of supply, such as a reel of such web, the packing or compacting means to ensure good compacting of the tobacco as it enters the final stages of the wrapping operation, the sealing element, shown in the form of a m-oistening wick, acting against the over-lapped edge portions of the spiralled web, the withdrawing wheels or rolls acting against the surface of the emerging filled and packed wrapper tube, such action being in the direction of spiral travel of the seam of the web, being also the direction of travel which includes the rotary component of cigarette travel, the means to heat one of such wheels or rolls, being the one which contacts the sealed seam directly after such seam passes the moistening wick, the cut-off cutter wheel, which is adjustable as to the plane in which its cutters rotate, and the means to drive all such elements in proper and adjustable correlation to ensure proper synchronized operation of all of the elements; and

FIGURE 2 shows a detailed fragmentary portion of a modified form of the cutter blade, being one of the blades of the cutter wheel shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, I have therein shown the twister or spiraler 10, which is of the general form and type of operation disclosed in the several earlier patents and applications already referred to. This element includes the web entry portion 11 which is preferably flat to conform to the non-curled condition of the entering web 12 coming from the reel 13 journalled on the hub 14. Arrangements of this kind are shown in the various earlier embodiments already mentioned. This twister has its lower and other end portion curled into a short cylindrical form to provide the delivery horn 15 of internal diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of the filled and compacted and wrapped cigarette length 16 which emerges from such horn. Preferably the strip of sheet metal or other suitable material from which the twister is made is provided with opposite edge guide portions 17 and 18 slightly separated from the concave surface of the twister, to receive and guide the edges of the web strip moving through the twister. These guides are of course separated from each other the same distance as the width of the web, or slightly more, to permit free travel under guidance along the concave surface of the twister.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 I have shown proportions such that the overlapped edge portions of the web emerge from the horn 15 when they are substantially at the bottom portion of their rotary component of movement. Such rotary component is due to the fact that the direction of in-feed of the web shown by the arrow 19 is diiferent from the direction of travel of the completed cigarette length, shown by the arrow 20, by an angle which I call the angle of spiral. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 such angle is substantially 25 degrees. The

means to withdraw the completed cigarette length from the horn of the twister will be described presently.

The tobacco is fed against the concave surface of the curling web at the general location just before the curling is completed, and where there is a sufficient opening onto such concave surface to allow for good delivery of the tobacco to the Web and in proper quantities. This condition will be better understood when it is stated that the surface of the twister (and of the web travelling therethrough) is substantially fiat to the general location 21 where the lower portion of the twister begins to curl towards the observer in FIGURE 1, and upwardly, so that the near edge of the twister is shown by the line 22. As movement proceeds along the twister towards the right (towards the horn such curling continues so that such edge rises and then proceeds backwardly from the observer, and then curls down to meet the inner surface of the non-curled portion of the twister, at which location further curling of the entire element occurs to complete the cylindrical form of the horn. Such formation of the twisters is well shown and disclosed in each of such earlier embodiments.

Thus it appears that during the travel of the web towards the horn the in-fed tobacco should also be caused to travel with the wrapper web, being packed as needed during such travel, so that by the time the enclosing operation of the web is being completed the tobacco will be gripped by such enclosing web and thus subjected to a radial packing operation. Also, the tobacco is advancing towards the horn during this operation.

I provide means to continuously deliver the tobacco to the desired location just above defined. Such means includes a carrier or conveyor, such as the light belt 23 travelling over the pulley 24 journalled at 25 at such location that as the belt moves around such pulley the tobacco carried by its upper surface is discharged towards the desired section of the twister and towards the surface of the web where it may then be further acted on as presently explained. By properly proportioning the parts so that a rather high belt speed is used, the tobacco will be discharged forwardly far enough to accomplish the intended result. Also, such discharge will be in a rather spread out condition so that the tobacco will be distributed over some area of the web surface. To aid in such delivery of the tobacco stream I have also shown the air jet nozzle 26 supported at such position that an air jet delivered by such nozzle will blow or throw the tobacco rather strongly towards the surface of the web, and also towards the entering or left-hand end of the horn. Thus a compacting operation will be produced by such jet.

To further effect compacting of the tobacco so that it will be brought to the specified degree of compactness in the horn, I have provided the spiral conveyor element 27 comprising the small rod shaft having the spiral thin screw element extending forwardly from a location near the entrance end of the web into the twister, to a location near or even in the entrance end of the horn. This screw is preferably of tapered diameter, but constant pitch, so that as the tobacco enters and surrounds the screw convolutions such tobacco will be driven forward and towards the horn, and finally into the horn. It is noted that the convolutions of such screw conveyor are of diminishing radius proceeding towards the horn, as the compacting operation proceeds. It is also noted that the travel of the web against which the tobacco contacts, will aid in advancing such tobacco into the horn. By properly proportioning the convolutions of the screw conveyor, and properly controlling its driven speed, presently to be explained, the desired compacting of the tobacco entering the horn will be ensured.

The conveyor shaft 27 extends through a journal block 23 seated on the lower portion of the twister near the entrance end thereof (or otherwise supported), and the end of such shaft is provided with the sprocket wheel 29 by which such screw conveyor is driven. Such drive may be in either direction (by reverse of the screws convolutions), but in the embodiment shown the direction of screw conveyor rotation is the same as the rotary component of travel of the web moving through the twister. It is here mentioned that in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, and the operation of which will be more fully explained hereinafter with an example of the relative speeds of the operational elements, the shaft 27 of such screw conveyor will sometimes be much greater than the rotational speed of the emerging (and producing) cigarette length, so that a strong compacting force will be developed by the rotations of such screw conveyor, notwithstanding that the web itself is also rotating in the same direction as such screw conveyor, but at lower rotational speed.

Thus it appears that I have provided means to deliver to the surface of the twister tobacco at a rate determined by the rate of travel of the belt conveyor 23 and the amount of tobacco supplied to and carried by such conveyor per unit length thereof, means, in the form of the air jet, to further drive the so supplied tobacco towards the desired location, it being noted that such nozzle may be directed to ensure such operation, and the valve element 30 of such nozzle enables control of the strength of such air jet, and means in the form of the screw conveyor, to ensure good drive movement of the tobacco towards and into the encircled portion of the web entering the horn, to thus aid the movement of the tobacco,

, and to thus ensure the desired degree of compacting of the wrapped tobacco. Each of these operations may be controlled as to speed so that their relative effects may be properly synchronized and harmonized at any and all times, and for any selected speed of cigarette delivery operation. Such speed of cigarette delivery may be controlled as desired, by the instrurnentalities presently to be described.

A short distance beyond the delivery end of the horn 15 I have provided several cigarette draw wheels or rolls, preferably in opposite pairs, such wheels being in peripheral contact with the surface of the completed cigarette length and exerting a drawing or pulling force to continuously draw the completed product from the horn. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 there are four of these wheels, 31, 32, 33 and 34, in the opposite pairs, 3132, and 33-34, the wheels of each pair being diametrically opposite to each other and engaging the diametrically opposite portions of the emerging cigarette length. Each of these wheels is suitably journalled so that its periphery engages the surface of the cigarette length with some pressure to thereby ensure good frictional engagement with the cigarette length. Preferably, also the peripheral surfaces of these Wheels are coated with soft rubber or other frictionally engaging material of slightly yieldable nature, so that good pulling engagement is made by each wheels periphery with the cigarette wrapper surface. Such material is shown by the stippling on the edge portions of the wheels 31, 32 and 33 (only the corners of 34 being visible since such wheel is almost completely hidden by the length of cigarette).

These wheels may be supported by journals which permit of slight movement towards and away from the axis of the emerging cigarette, with spring pressure urging the Wheels slightly towards the surface of the cigarette to thus ensure good traction between each wheel and such cigarette surface, even when the cigarette is slightly compressible due to non-packing of the tobacco during the first stages of starting a run of the machine, as will be hereinafter explained.

It is seen from FIGURE 1 that these wheels are not supported in planes parallel to the axis of the emerging cigarette. Thus, the top wheel, 31, slants away from the observer as one moves towards the right in the figure (that is, in the direction of cigarette travel), the front wheel, 33, slants up when moving towards the right, the rear wheel, 34 slants down when moving towards the right, and the bottom wheel, 32 slants towards the observer when moving towards the right. The angles at which such slants occur correspond to the angle of spiral, substantially 25 degrees in the embodiment shown in FIG- URE 1. Thus, each Wheel rotates, at its point of contact with the cigarette, in a plane parallel to the direction of cigarette travel at the point of contact between the wheel and the surface of the cigarette, and thus rotates without side slip. The journals of the several wheels should be adjusted, when installed, to exactly that angle of spiral which will be used in the assembly. Or, if desired, provision may be made in the supports of the journals, for slight angular adjustment, either at the time of assembly or at some later time, without dismounting the assembly.

All four of these drive wheels are driven in harmony and at like speeds so that they all combine to develop draw on the cigarette, and so that all of such draws are at the same rate, thus avoiding any tendency for the cigarette to twist to one side or the other, or up or down. The drive means and controls therefor will be described hereinafter. It is, however noted that the wheel 33 engages the surface of the emerging cigarette at the location attained by the spiral seam when passing the location of such wheel, so that such wheel exerts a direct pressure against such spiral seam at such location.

Directly beyond the delivery end of the horn 15 is the moistener wick element 35. This Wick is supplied with water from a suitable source, through the wick holder 36, and at rate sufiicient to meet the continuing needs of the fast travelling cigarette length. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 the seam has come around to the bottom of the emerging cigarette, so such wick is located below the cigarette as shown, to properly engage such seam. However, by the time any element of the seam has travelled far enough to the right to meet the wheel 33 such seam element has risen substantially one-fourth turn, and now faces the observer in FIGURE 1. Thus, by locating the Wheels at the location shown, it is possible to ensure that such wheel 33 will ride on the seam as thus exert pressure thereon.

If desired the peripheral portion of such wheel 33 may be continuously adjustably heated, as by suitable electrical heating elements, by current continuously supplied to such heating elements through the wires 37 and 38, and suitable slip-rings or other conventional means. It is noted that the rate of linear travel of the cigarette is high, so the interval of contact between the seam element and the periphery of such wheel 33 is very small. Accordingly, it is possible to heat such wheel periphery to a considerable temperature without danger of burning or charring the cigarette paper, or producing such efiects as carmelization which would affect the quality of the product. Thus, if desired a rapid drying elfect may be produced, sufficient to ensure good adherance between the overlapping edge portions of the wrapper.

Located beyond the drive or draw wheels is a cut-off unit, shown as the wheel 39 in FIGURE 1. This wheel comprises a hub portion 40, journalled in the arms of a yoke 41, which yoke in turn has the stem 42 which is connected to a stationary stand 43 by the ball and socket connection 44. A set screw element 45 is provided for locking the ball and socket joint in any adjusted position. By this arrangement the plane of the wheel may be set normal to the direction of cigarette travel, or may be tilted in either direction compared to such normality, or may be rocked about an up and down axis, or may be adjusted in various combinations of such adjustments. Thus, such ball and socket joint makes it possible to bring the plane of rotation of the wheel to any desired angle with respect to the direction of cigarette travel.

This wheel also includes one or more radially extending cutter elements, shown in FIGURE 1 as comprising the high tensile small diameter wires 46. The hub element includes corresponding short radial stubs 47 to which the inner ends of such wires are connected; and the wheel also includes the light rim element 48 to which the outer ends of the wires are connected. Such rim element is, however, of suflicient mass to provide a considerable rotational inertia, due to its relatively large diameter, so that when the wheel is brought up to speed such rim Will serve to prevent a cut-ting Wire from being deflected backwardly (with respect to its direction of rotation), and thus such wire will be supported and driven forward during the cutting operation substantially without deflection due to its lack of stiffness. The diameter of such wire may be of the order of a few thousandths of an inch so that at the high rotative speed presently to be explained, such wire will have an ample cutting ability through the diameter of the cigarette length. This cutter wheel is driven in harmony or synchronism with the other elements of the device, so that as each wire spoke comes to the near surface of the cigarette and proceeds through such cigarette, cutting off the right-hand section thereof, a proper length of the cigarette shall have passed through between two of the wheel wires or spokes, according to the specified length of such cigarettes. Since I have, in FIGURE 1 shown four such wires it is seen that each cutting action, representing a cigarette of specified length, will occur for a one-fourth rotation of the Wheel, and accordingly, four cigarettes will be cut off during each wheel rotation, in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

At this point I mention that the cutter wheel shown in FIGURE 1 is on much reduced scale as compared to the other portions of that figure, for purposes of convenience in illustration. An example of such Wheels diameter will be stated hereinafter.

In FIGURE 1 I have also shown, by block diagram and schematically, for convenience, one means for driving and controlling the various operative elements thus described. In said figure the motive power may be supplied by the drive motor, 48 preferably a synchronous constant speed motor. Such motor drives a double output gear element, 49, having the two output shafts 50 and 51. Included in such gear element or unit 49 is provision for continuous adjustment of the output speed of each such shaft through an infinite range of speeds, so that the exact speed of each output shaft, 50 or 51, may be adjusted as needed.

The output shaft 51 constitutes the input shaft of another gear ratio changer element 52, also, preferably capable of an infinite range of output speeds to the output shaft, 53; and such output shaft 53 constitutes the input shaft of a clutch element 54 by which the drive of the screw-conveyor may be disconnected, or such conveyor may be brought into operation after other elements have been started. To this end the output shaft 55 of such clutch element drives the screw convey-or through the sprockets 56 and 57 and the connecting chain 58.

The output shaft 50 from the double output gear element 49 serves as the input shaft to a multiple gear output gear box 59. Since all of the wheels 31, 32, 33 and 34 are of the same size they should all be driven at the same speed. Accordingly, the gear box 59 is provided with gearing to drive the four output shafts 60, 61, 62 and 63 at the same speed. These four shafts connect, by flexible shafting if desired, with the four drive wheels 31, 32, 33 and 34, respectively. The gear box 59 also includes a gear change element, preferably of the infinite range type, from which extends the output shaft 64. This constitutes the input shaft to the clutch element 65. From such clutch element its output shaft 66 serves as the input shaft to another change gear box, 67, also preferably of the infinite range type; and the output shaft 68 from such gear box 67 connects, preferably by a flexible shaft 69, to the shaft of the cutter wheel.

The belt conveyor wheel 24 is conveniently driven by a separate drive motor 70, preferably of the synchronous type. Such separate drive for such belt conveyor is convenient since the rate of tobacco delivery to the twister and web will in fact depend on the rate of supply 9 to such conveyor, and not alone on the linear velocity of such belt conveyor; the rate of tobacco delivery in pounds/hr. being dependent on the weight of tobacco carried by each linear foot of the conveyor, and that can be controlled at the feed station from which such conveyor is supplied.

The air jet may be controlled from time to time by an attendant according to the manner in which the tobacco is being spread over the screw-conveyor, etc.

With such fundamental elements related as stated above various operations may be conducted, some of which are as follows:

First; for any specified length of the cut-01f cigarettes there is a corresponding ratio between the speeds of the drive Wheels 31, 32, 33 and 34, on the one hand, and the cut-E wheel, 39, on the other hand. This is true since such specified length of cigarette must arrive at the position of the cut-oil wheel in time to be acted on by one of the spokes of that wheel. With the four spoke arrangement shown, such cut-ofi wheel must make one rotation for four cigarette lengths, etc. According- 1y, having specified the cigarette length, the gear change box 67 will be set to ensure exactly one rotation of the cut-off wheel for whatever number of rotations of the .drive wheels are necessary to advance the cigarette four cigarette lengthsin the case of three inch cigarettes,

twelve inches. Having made such setting it need not be changed until some other cigarette length is specified. It should here be noted that in the showing of FIGURE 1 such cut-ofi wheel is shown in greatly reduced diameter as compared to the size of other elements, and a convenient diameter of such cut-ofi wheel would be twelve inches, the diameter of the cigarette being substantially 0.330 inch.

Having established the foregoing relationship, the driven speed of the drive wheels 31, 32, 33 and 34 should be such as to absorb the tobacco being fed to the twister and wrapper at such rate as will produce the desired compactness of the tobacco in the delivered product. In other words, since the rate of delivery of tobacco by the belt conveyor depends on how fast such tobacco is fed onto such conveyor at the input end, such tobacco must be absorbed by properly compacted cigarettes as it arrives at the present unit. The ratio between the speeds of the drive wheels and of the cut-off wheel having been pre-set, the speed of this combination may then be regulated by proper adjustment at the gear box 49, to bring its output shaft 50 to that speed which will drive the drive wheels and the cut-off wheel at the proper rate to absorb the arriving tobacco. This is of course on the assumption that such arriving tobacco is being used as fast as it arrives so that there is neither a depletion nor an increase of tobacco unused at the location of the present unit.

Next, the rate of drive of the screw-conveyor element should be adjusted to a point such that the tobacco is compacted to the desired degree. In so doing the rate of consumption of tobacco per hundred cigarettes or other arbitrary number, will change, being reduced as compaction is increased, and vice versa. Accordingly, in case of such a change in degree of compaction it may also be necessary to go back and readjust the rate of drive of the shaft 50 from the gear box 49, so that no change in volume of tobacco present in the twister unit will occur, either as a depletion or as an increase.

The adjustment of the air jet by use of the valve element thereof, will be made according to the desired dis tribution of the tobacco delivered into the screw-conveyor.

The degree of rock of the cutter wheel away from the condition of normality to the direction of travel of the arriving cigarette, will be adjusted to that value at which the tilt is just correct to produce the same advance of the cutter wire in the direction of cigarette movement, during the time needed for such wire to traverse the diamemerging product.

eter of the cigarette as is the advance of the cigarette in its direction of travel during that same time interval. Under such balanced conditions the cutter wire will follow the cigarette travel in the direction of such travel, so that a straight cross cut may be produced without producing a ragged cut such as would be produced if such harmony of movement did not occur.

It is further to be noted that in any case the elements of the machine must be so proportioned that the cross cut of each cutter shall be completed in ample time to avoid conflict with the cutting action of the next cutter of the wheel. With a cutter wheel of twelve inches diameter, it is possible to so proportion all of the parts that a desired balance of conditions will be readily produced. I shall herein include a tabulation of sizes and rates of movement of various elements of the present device, for both rates of operation of 1000 cigarettes per minute and 4000 cigarettes per minute. This tabulation will strikingly reveal the relationship between the operations of various elements of the equipment. Both of the foregoing rates of cigarette production will be on the basis of three inches per cigarette. At this point I call attention to the following operations to place the present equipment into service:

It is evident that the ability of the drive wheels 31, 32, 33 and 34 to produce traction on the emerging cigarette length depends on the presence of a filled body of the spirally wound wrapper, since the absence of a properly packed body of tobacco within such wrapper would leave the tubular wrapper without internal support. Accordingly, the first operation of the device should be to bring the wrapper into longitudinal movement, and commence the introduction of the tobacco into the curling wrapper moving through the horn. During this interval a slow manual movement of the wrapper, with coordinated introduction of the tobacco into the curling wrapper, can be effected so that presently there will appear the spiralled wrapper with some enclosed tobacco, emerging from the delivery end of the horn. As this preliminary operation proceeds a better and better packing of the tobacco can be produced until finally the emerging length of cigarette will be packed with sufficient compactness to enable the drive wheels to gain traction on the surface of the Thereafter the drive wheels may be slowly accelerated to increase speed, use being made of the various controls already explained. Finally such drive wheels may be brought to the full intended rotational speed for the desired rate of cigarette production.

Next, the operation of the cut-off wheel must be considered, in respect to its proper functioning or non-functioning during this starting stage of the operation. It is evident that proper cut-off cannot be produced until the rate of the cutter wires (or blades) across the path of the emerging cigarette length has become high enough to effect such cutting without merely tearing the cigarette length or causing it to become tangled up or festooned. To meet this condition various operational procedures may be followed, including the following sequences:

First, the cutter wheel may be brought up to speed at least sutficient to produce good sharp cut-ofi when the cigarette length starts to emerge from the horn far enough to engage the cutter wheel. Then, as the cigarette length comes into engagement with the cutter wheel blades sharp cut-offs will occur. At the beginning of such operation the elements of cigarette thus cut ofi will be short, but as the speed of the drive wheels 31, 32, 33 and 34 is raised, with corresponding rise of the rate of cigarette delivery, the lengths so cut 01f will increase until finally the operation will be brought into properly related speeds of cigarette emergence and cut-ofl.

It is noted that when the cutter wheel is provided with an encircling rim element '48 it is not possible to shift the position of such cutter wheel laterally of its axis to bring it into operative position with respect to the path of travel of the emerging cigarette since such an operation would entail shifting such rim across the body of the emerging cigarette length. For this reason when such rim is used as a part of the cutter wheels construction some starting operation such as above outlined must be followed. On the contrary, by using a cutter wheel construction which does not include such outer rim extending between the radial blades, it is possible to effect lateral shift of the cutter wheel while it is rotating at high speed, and while the emerging cigarette is moving along its normal delivery path. By such an arrangement, involving lateral shift of the cutter wheel to bring its rapidly rotating blades into cutting relation to the emerging cigarette length, it is possible to bring both the rate of cigarette production (length) and the rate of cutter wheel rotation, to high values while the cutter wheel is laterally displaced from the path of emergence of the cigarette length from the horn; and then bring such cutter wheel into operative position for cutting off the desired cigarette lengths after such high rates of movement have been attained. Thereafter, normal operation can be continued.

In FIGURE 2 I have shown a modified detailed fragmentary view of a cutter blade 70 connected to one of the hub studs 47, such cutter blade being of such angular dimension (measured in the rotative direction of cut) as will give such blade desired stiffness, and the outer end portion of such blade need not be supported by any encircling rim element. By use of this type of blade in place of the thin high-tension strength wires shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, it is possible to shift a cutter wheel equipped with such blades laterally into cutting position after all operative parts have attained a sufiiciently high speed to ensure proper operations of the several elements, and also properly related operations of such elements.

It is noted that the cutting operation necessarily produces a lateral force against the cigarette length at the location of cut-off. Such force is in direction away from the observer examining FIGURE 1. Accordingly, I have provided, in the showing of FIGURE 1 a curved guard plate 71 supported behind the cigarette length just to the left of the plane of intersection of the rotating cutter blade with the cigarette body, so that such guard will not interfere with the free and proper cutting movement of the blade. Nevertheless, such guard will afford such lateral support to the cigarette as needed to prevent lateral displacementof the cigarette length during the cut-01f operation. As will presently be shown the change of angle of tilt of the plane of the cutter wheel to maintain proper coordination between that wheels rotational movement and the lengthwise travel of the cigarette length during cut-off is very small. Accordingly, it will generally be possible to set such guard plate slightly leftward of the generally used rotational path of the cutter blades, so that any later slight shift of cutter wheel tilt may be accommodated without bringing the path of the cutter blades into position Where interference with such guard plate would occur. Even so, if desired such guard plate may be mounted and supported in such manner that it can be shifted slightly back and forth parallel to the direction of cigarette travel, to take care of such changes of wheel tilt as above mentioned.

To illustrate the relative proportions and rates of operation of various elements of such a cigarette producing machine as disclosed above,,and to show the high rates of cigarette production ,(individual cigaretteleng ths) which may be attained with such a device I have now presented below a tabulation of various ofthe operational elements, their sizes in essential functions, their operational rates for two rates of cigarette production (on the assumption of three inch cigarette lengths), and various other factors of interest. It will be understood that the illustrations thus given are intendedto be of general nature only, and are given merely by way of illustration or example. The tabulation is as follows:

Tabulation of Suggested Sizes of Certain Operative Elements and their Rates of Operation for Two Rates of Production of Three Inch Cigarettes Cigarette Production per Minute Rate of cigarette travel, injmin 3, 000 12, 000 Angle of Spiral 25 d. 25 d. Rate of paper strip inleed, in./min 3, 310 13,250 Length of cigarette convolution, in 2. 666 2.666 Diameter of cigarette, in 0. 330 0.330 Rpm. of formed cigarette 1, 125 4, 500 Pitch of feed screw, in 1. 583 1. 583 Rpm. of feed screw 1, 900 7, 590 Diameter of cigarette drive wheels, in- 2. 00 2.00 Rpm. of Cigarette drive wheels 527 2, 105 Diam. of cutter wheel, overall, in 12 12 Radius oi blade at point of cut-oh, in 5. 25 5. 25 Rpm. of cutter-wheeL 250 1, 000 Number of cutter blades 4 4 Time to travel one eigare m 00100 00025 sec 06000 .01500 Are travel of cutbfi wheel to cut-oft 3 d.10 m 3 (1.10 m. Arc travel of out-01f wheel between successive cut-ofis 86 d.50 m. 86 d.50 m. Linear speed of cutter blade at radius of cutofi, in./min 8,250 33, 000 Time to out off cigarette, min.. .00004 .00001 Cigarette travel during cut-oft time 0. 12 in. 1. 12 in. Cutter blade travel during cut-ofi 0.33 in. O. 33 in. Tangent of angle of tilt of cutter 0. 363 0. 363 Angle of tilt of cutter-wheel, approx 19 deg. 19 dog.

The above tabulation shows, for the assumed conditions, that the tilt of the cut-ofi wheel need not be changed as the rate of cigarette production is changed, when the rotative rate of such cut-oil wheel is changed at the same proportionate amount as the change in rate of cigarette production. Likewise, that the relative speeds of the drive wheels and the cut-off wheel remain constant so that the operational layout shown schematically in FIGURE 1 is a convenient arrangement for controlling the various operations under different specified rates of cigarette production.

Referring again to the form of cutter blade shown in FIGURE 2, the outer end portion 72 of such blade is curved backwardly with reference to the direction of blade sweep, as indicated by the arrow 73 in such figure. The cigarette length being cut through by such blade is shown by the circle 74, and on the basis of an eitective blade radius of approximately 5.25 inches (as shown in the previous tabulation), such cigarette diameter is substantially as indicated by such circle 74. It is now evident that the cutting operation produced by such a blade cutting shape (curved backwardly as shown in FIGURE 2), the cut across the diameter of the cigarette is in the nature of a shearing action, and not directly across the diameter of the cigarette in the direction normal to the radius of the cutter. Accordingly, the cutting elfect thus produced is that of a spiral shaped cutter which efiective radius increases as the cutting action proceeds, being smallest to begin with and increasing to finality. Such a shearing action is desirable for various reasons which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

For reasons of simplicity of illustration I have not shown any housing or enclosure around the left-hand open portion of the twister and tobacco supply elements. It is evident that any such enclosure may be provided to ensure against loss of the loose tobacco being in-fed from the belt conveyor and being directed by the momentum of the arriving tobacco leaving such conveyor, and also directed by the air jet towards the screw conveyor, towards the horn. Any suitable enclosure which will retain the tobacco against such loss may be applied over and around the exposed open upper portions of the parts.

-I claim:

1. Means to produce a continuous length of cigarette stock in which the tobacco is packed in a continuous web of wrapper in spiral fashion with the wrapper spiralled along the cigarette stock at a pre-determined angle of spiral and with the proximate edges of the wrapper in continuous engagement with each other along a spiral seam and with said edges secured together, said means comprising a hollow horn of internal size substantially the same as the diameter of the cigarette stock, said horn having wrapper entrance portion and a cylindrical delivery portion having a delivery end, means to continuously supply to the interior surface of the wrapper entrance portion of said horn the strip of wrapper in spiral fashion during advance of the wrapper through the horn from the wrapper entrance portion of the horn to the delivery end thereof, said means to supply the wrapper strip to the wrapper entrance portion of the horn being constituted to supply the wrapper strip in a direction non-parallel to the axis of the horn by an angular amount corresponding to the spiral angle of the wrapper strip within the horn, means to feed the wrapper strip into the entrance portion of the horn in said spiral fashion, means to progressively curl the wrapper strip from a non-curved cross-section of said strip into a cylindrical spiral of curved cross-section of the strip at a location in advance of the entrance portion of the horn and during travel of the wrapper strip to the entrance portion of the horn and to bring the edges of the wrapper strip into proximity with each other at a location adjacent to the entrance portion of the horn, together with means to continuously supply tobacco against the face of the wrapper strip at the location of progressive curl of the Wrapper strip and between the location of commencement of said curl and the location of the entrance portion of the horn and continuously acting means to draw the spirally formed wrapper strip and contained tobacco from the delivery end of the horn in the direction of the spiral travel of the cigarette stock from such delivery end of the horn, the means to continuously supply the tobacco against the face of the wrapper strip at said location including a belt conveyor means to support said conveyor for linear travel towards the location of supply of the tobacco to the face of the Wrapper strip, said conveyor supporting means being constituted for change of direction of the conveyor at a point in advance of said location of tobacco supply to the face of the wrapper strip, including means to advance the conveyor towards said point of change of direction, and means to produce the linear travel of the conveyor towards said point of change of direction.

2. Means as defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting and direction changing means comprises a pulley, and means to journal said pulley at a location with the face of the pulley in proximity to the location of commencement of curl of the wrapper strip.

3. Means as defined in claim 2, wherein the belt conveyor travels downwardly over said pulley at the location of the pulley.

4. Means as defined in claim 2, together with means to adjust the rate of operation of the means which draws the spirally formed wrapper strip and contained tobacco from the delivery end of the horn.

5. Means as defined in claim 2, together with means to adjust the rate of advance of the conveyor towards the point of change of direction of said conveyor.

6. Means as defined in claim 5, together with means to adjust the rate of operation of the means which draws the 14 spirally formed wrapper strip and contained tobacco from the delivery end of the horn.

7. Means as defined in claim 2, together with means to deliver a current of gas towards the location of progre sive curl of the wrapper strip and at the location of supply of the tobacco to the face of the Wrapper strip.

8. Means as defined in claim 7, wherein said gas current delivering means comprises a gas delivery nozzle.

9. Means as defined in claim 7, together with means to support said gas current delivering means, including gas current delivery direction adjustable means.

10. Means as defined in claim 7, together with means to adjust the rate of the delivery of the gas current.

11. Means as defined in claim 10, together with means to support said gas current delivering means, including gas current delivery direction adjustable means.

12. Means to produce a continuous length of cigarette stock in which the tobacco is packed in a continuous web of wrapper strip having the proximate edges of said wrapper strip in engagement with each other, said means including a wrapper strip continuous tube forming unit including means to continuously draw the edges of the wrapper strip towards each other and into overlapping engagement with each other, means to continuously advance the wrapper strip through said tube forming unit, and means to continuously feed tobacco against the concave surface of the wrapper strip at a location in advance of the engagement of the edges of the strip with each other, said tobacco feeding means including a belt conveyor, means to support said conveyor for linear travel towards the location of supply of the tobacco to the face of the wrapper strip, said conveyor supporting means being constituted for change of direction of the conveyor at a point in advance of the location of tobacco supply to the face of the wrapper strip, including means to advance the conveyor towards said point of change of direction, and means to produce the linear travel of the conveyor towards said point of change of direction.

13. Means as defined in claim 12, together with means to adjust the rate of advance of the conveyor towards the point of change of direction of said conveyor.

14. Means as defined in claim 12, together with means to deliver a current of gas towards the location of feed of the tobacco against the concave surface of the wrapper strip.

15. Means as defined in claim 14, together with means to adjust the rate of delivery of the gas current.

16. Means as defined in claim 15, together with means to adjust the rate of advance of the conveyor towards the point of change of direction of said conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,289 Boucher Oct. 2, 1906 2,149,924 Molins Mar. 7, 1939 2,335,514 Hiebert Nov. 30', 1943 2,788,004 Banning Apr. 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 548,860 Germany Apr. 20, 1932 19,667 Great Britain of 1893 445,044 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1936 

